Landing platform for airplanes



Feb. 29, s wELLMAN Y 2,342,773

LANDING PLATFORM FOR AIRPLANES Filed March 28, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. finMue-z. K WELL/m4 ATTORNEY5 Feb. 29, 1944.

s. K. WELLMAN 2,342,773

LANDING- PLATFORM FOR AIRPLANES Fiied March 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'fllllllll INVENTOR.

SQMA/EL K. WELL/WAN flfld HMM $1 ATTOEYSW Patented Feb. 29, 1944 Application March 28 This invention relates to a platformespecially adapted for the landing thereon and'the taking off therefrom of aircraft. More particularly-the invention relates to a platform which; can be transported by ship for other suitable means to 1942, Serial No. 436,563 12 Claims; ,(Cl. 114-435) any desired destination and then after being ex:- 3 tended to operative position and inflated will float with sufficient stability'to allow aircraft to land thereon and take off therefrom.

The use of certain types of military aircraft is limited by their relatively short operating radius. The zone of operations of=such aircraft heretofore, has been determined by the location and presence of suitable landing fields open to their use or by the availability of ships. such as air- Referringto the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspectivezview ofa' ship orvessel equipped with a platform embodying theinven tion and shows said platform extended from the side of the ship'and floating on "the water in the lee 0f the ship.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through;

the platform in its inflated condition and is taken substantially on line-2-2 of Fig. 1. lookin in the direction of the arrows.

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the platform shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates one of craft carriers, equipped with deck-supported landing platforms. I

The principal object of the invention is to enthe inflating fitting -mounted on the platform able aircraft of relatively short'operating radius to operate at substantial "distances from their regular bases, whetherfiire'd 'landing fields or aircraft carriers provided with deck-supported land-. ing platforms. r

Another object of the present invention is to provide a platform for the landing thereon and the taking off therefrom of aircraftand which platform can be effectively contained .in and transported by a ship when therplatform 'is'not in use and then at any desired location or desti-. nation can bequickly extended frorn'-.the ship and inflated and floated on the water-with the requisite stability; 5 i l A further object is to v as specified in the last named'obiectand which is so formed that when not in use it can'berolled uponareell Another object is'to character referred to and 'whichdOes' nOt require major structural alterations in aship in adapting and equippingit for-the purposes of provide a platform such provide a platform of the transporting the platform when notin use and in extending the platfon'n'and'supporting'the;

same duriuguse. i

Another object is toprovide a platform for,

aircraftwhich can be readily constructed and. quicklyinstalled in ships of conventional design; Another object. is toprovide a floating platform of the character referred to and which platform is, so constructed that; it will float (in-water and allow the taking ofltherefrom or the land-. L

ing thereonof aircraft whenthe platform 'i'szin fiated at a relatively low pressure.

Another object is to provide a' p1atrorni'or the character referred to, which can ,be extended from the, sideof a" vessel and will floatontthe Y waterin the lee "ofthe vessel. j

Further and additionalobjectsandfadvantages I not expressly referred to above'willbecome ap-' parent hereinafter during the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention. 1

- ing as indicated at Ilin Fig. 2.:- V 1 c. The upper sheet :is. placed on thelower'sheet. '..with the longitudinal edges andthe'end edges of both sheets inxregistration and then such edges aresealed and secured together by suitable means such as by welding. 'Theinterconnected' longitudinaledges of the sheets are indicatedat I I; -while the interconnected outer. end edges. .thereof are indicated at. l5. It will be understood that the inner end edge of the platform which is not illustratedqin the drawingspas "it" is mounted. on the reel later to be referred to,-is of the same ;he outer corners of the platform witha portion of the top surface of the platform broken away to disclose the lower interior. surface thereof .and with the outer end of an air hose connectedto near its outer end.

Fig. 4 is asomewhat up condition and illustrating the mechanism for operating the reel-and for inflating the'platform.

The platform embodying the invention comprises a lower sheet l0 and an upper sheet Il.:- .The upper and lower sheets are of the same dii-Hq mensions and areformed of suitable pliable thin. gauge material possessing the requisite strength for thepurposes required. Preferably the sheets, are formed of th'in" gauge sheet steel-which has the requisite. strength 'butais suiiicientlypliable' to allow the platform tobe wound up onaa. reel and whenso'wound .to present a roll whichis not The upper and lower sheets may each be formed of a plurality-of elon-- 1 o gated strips I! of thin gauge steel with thead jacent longitudinal edges of thestrips contacting eachother andsecured-together throughout weldu of excessive diameter.

construction as the outer endedge thereof.

The upper andlower sheets'when united; as

just explained constitute an inflatable enclosure;

When .the platform is notinflatcd the. upper sheet II will lie againstrthe lower sheet-J0; but

when the platformis inflated the upperand low a diagrammatickhorizontal-- longitudinal sectional view through the ship or .vessel showing the platform in partially reeled-' er sheets will be slightly spaced apart as indicated in Fig. 2. The platform should be of sumcient width to impart stability thereto when the platform is floating on water. The platform should be of such length as to enable light aircraft, such as military pursuit or fighter planes to take off therefrom and land thereon.

As previously stated the platform in use is infiated. It is proposed to inflate the platform at a relatively low pressure, since the area of the platform thus inflated provides sufficient buoyancy to properly float the platform with the necessary stability to permit the landing thereon and the taking off therefrom of aircraft. Inasmuch as the platform is inflated at low pressure small leaks which might occur therein would not be serious since the escape of the low pressure air would be slow.

The manner in which the platform would be carried by a ship and extended therefrom is.

illustrated in a diagrammatic manner in the drawings, it being understood that various arrangements of reels, propelling mechanism therefor, as well as different apparatus for in-- dating the platform and different ways of extending the platform from a ship could be employed.

The inner end of the platform is connected to a suitable elongated reel l8 which, in the present illustration, is shown located below the main deck of a vessel 11 and rotatably mounted in suitable supports IS. The reel it extends lengthwise of the vessel and may be power driven at one or both ends by suitable power operated means. In the present illustration such means is shown only at one end of the reel and comprises a motor IS on the spindle of which is a pinion meshing with a gear 2| fixed to the extended end of the reel shaft 22. If necessary to do so suitable supportirg means, such as rollers (not shown), may contact the underside of the rolled up platform intermediate the ends of the reel.

The platform may be extended from the reel through an elongated opening 23 formed in the hull of the ship. The opening 23 can be closed by a closure member 24 when the platform is completely wound on the reel l8. Although the reel I8 is shown mounted below the main deck and the platform is illustrated as extending from the reel through the elongated opening 23 in the hull of the vessel, it will be understood that the reel may be mounted on the main deck of the vessel and the platform extended therefrom over the side of the ship.

As previously stated, it is proposed to inflate the platform when the latter is extended from the reel and the ship and this may be done by movement by rollers 31 and 38 mounted interiorly of the ship as shown in Fig. 5.

The ship I! provided with the'reel on which the platform is wound proceeds to a desired destination and anchors broadside to the wind.

It will be understood that the Ship will be opening 23. The outer end of the hose is also passed out of the opening 35 and connected to the inflating fitting 26 carried by the platform. The platform may be unwound from the reel by the power operational? the latter alone or the unwinding thereof can be assisted by using small boats 38 connected by tow lines 48 to fittings 4| secured to each outer corner of the platform. The small boats and the tow lines 48 not only can be used to assist in unwinding the platform into operative position but they can also be employed to hold or guy the platform in position after it has been completely unwound. As the platform is unwound from the reel low pressure air is supplied thereto through the hose 25 to inflate the platform and enable it to float on the water in the lee of the vessel. The relatively large area of the platform and the inflated condition thereof provide the required buoyancy and stability to the platform and enables aircraft to land thereon or to take off therefrom. The platform and its carrying vessel can be used as a refueling relay station for aircraft of short operating radius to enable such craft to operate at distances from their regular bases. Also the vessel l1 may carry aircraft and the latter operates from the vessel itself as a base, taking oil from and landing on the platform.

After the platform has been extended from the ship, inflated and used for the taking 011' or landing of airplanes, it may be rewound on the reel and the ship moved to-another location. In rewinding the platform on the reel it is, of course,

necessary to deflate the platform and the latter will be provided with suitable valve means for this purpose.

be reeved around a sheave 21 and extended therefrom into a storage receptacle 28 in which it may be coiled with its inner end connected to a source of supply of low pressure air such asa mounted in bearings formed by suitable supports 34. The hose 25 can be run out from the ship through an opening 35in the hull and which opening ordinarily may be closed by a suitable port 36. The hose may be guided in its outward It will be understood that the platform is reeled toward the ship and wound up on the reel 8 I8 at the same time that the hose 25 is pulled inwardly of the vessel and coiled in the receptacle 28. When the platform has been completely wound on the reel the closure member 24 and the port 38 may be closed and the vessel may proceed to a. difierent destination.

It will be appreciated that substantially conventional cargo ships may readily be equipped with the reel and platform and this equipment can be utilized in extending the zone 'of operaradius can be used against the enemy at long distances from-regular bases.

Although the longitudinal adjacent edges of the strips forming each sheet of the platform have been described herein as connected together destination rather than have it installed in a 2,342,773 ship and such an arrangement is within the contemplation of the present invention.

In case the platform when wet proves slippery the landing surface thereof could be roughened. or surfaced to provide greater traction for the landing gear of the aircraft using the platform. As an example ofjihow this might be done, sand said platform comprising an inflatable ncuow pliable body of thin gauge sheet metal and substantially greater in width than the beam of the ship, meanscarried by said ship and connected to the inner end of said platform forreceiving the latter when the same is deflated and stored q i on said ship, said platform being extendable' from could-be made to adhere to said landing surface H p of the platform.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is suscepfor receivingsaid platform when the latter is deflated and stored on said'ship, said platform being extendable laterally of said ship to be inflated and floated for the purpose of permitting the landing thereon and the taking on therefrom of aircraft.

2. In combination, a landing platform for aircraft and a ship for transporting said platform, said platform comprising an elongated inflatable, hollow, pliable body of a width substantially greater than thebeam of the ship and arranged so that its transverse dimension extends longitudinally of the ship, means carried by said ship said ship to be inflated and floated for the'purpose of permitting the landing thereon and the taking oif'therefrom of aircraft.

6. In combination, a landing platform for ai r- I craft and a ship for transporting said platform,f

saidplatform comprising an elongated inflatable hollow pliable body of substantial width and arranged so that its'transverse dimension extends longitudinally of the ship, said platform being formed of thin gaugesheet metal, a reel carried by'said ship and extending longitudinally thereof and connected to the inner end I of said platform and upon which the latter may,

be wound, said platform when unwound from said reel and extended laterally of said ship and inflated possessing sufficient buoyancy to float and permit the landing thereon and the takingoff therefrom of aircraft.-

7. The combination defined in claim 6 and wherein power operated means is operativelyconnected with said reel to rotate the same.

8. The combination defined in claim ,6 and. wherein said ship is provided with means for inflating said platform. a

and connected to the inner end of said platform a for receiving said platform whenthe latter is deflated and stored on said ship, the hull of said ship being provided with-an opening through which said platform may be extendedlaterally of the ship, said platform when thus extended and inflated" possessing sufllcient buoyancy to float and permit the landing-thereon and the taking off there from ofaircraft.

3. In combination, a landing platform for aircraft and a ship for transporting said platform, said platform comprising an elongated inflatable hollow pliable body of a width substantially greater than the beam of the ship, a reel carried by said ship and connected to the inner end of said platform and on which the latter is wound when deflated'and not in use, said platform when unwound from said reel and extended away from said ship and inflated possessing sufficient buoy- 9. The combinationdeflned in c1aim 6 and wherein said ship and said platform are provided with cooperating means for inflating the latter and which means includes an air inlet device carried by said platform adjacent its outer end, an extendable conduit carried by said ship and provided at one "endwith means .for connecting the conduit to said device, and means carriedby said ship and'connected to the other end of said conduit for supplying air under pressure thereto,

10. A platform of the character specified 7 comprising superimposed upper and lower sheets of substantially the same dimensions and former a of thin gauge pliable sheet metal, the longit-r" nal and and edges of said sheets being as red and sealed together, each sheet being formed of a plurality .of strips having their adjacent longitudinal edges secured together, and means I for introducingair between said sheets to inflate ancy to float and permit the landing thereon and the taking ofl therefrom of aircraft.

4. In combination, a landing platform for air-.-

craft and a ship for transporting said platform,

said platform comprising an elongated inflatable hollow pliable body of substantial width and arranged so that its transverse dimension extends longitudinally of the ship, a reel carried by said shipand extending longitudinally thereof and connected to the inner end of said platform and upon which the latter when deflated maybe said platform. I

11. A platform ofthe character specifledcomprising, superimposed upper and lower sheets of substantially thesame dimensions and'formed of thin gauge pliable sheet metal, the longitudinal and end edges of said sheets being secured and sealed together, each ofsaid sheets being formed of a plurality of strips having their ad- Jacent longitudinal edges welded together, and means for introducing air between said sheets I to inflate said platform.

12. A platform of the character specified comprising superimposed upper and lower-sheets of substantially the same dimensions and formed of thin gauge pliablesheet metal, the longitudinal and end edges of saidsheets being welded 'togetheneach of said sheets being formed of a plurality ofstrips having-their adjacent longitudinal edges welded together, and means for introducing air between saidsheets to inflate said platform.

amour. K. 

